The Year of Nothing New may be over, but this seems only to have increased your desire to know what I've been buying. And not buying.
Your wish is my command.
Note: I've divided this tally into new categories that reflect Bruce Sterling's advice. (A girl can aspire.) The goal is to keep any and all purchases in the first four categories.
BEAUTIFUL THINGS
60% off knee-high Rachel Gryson black boots. I am in love with them. I will also use them to pieces for the next decade. Timeless, beautifully made and HAWT.
EMOTIONALLY IMPORTANT THINGS
Twilight series novels one and three. I had no used buying alternatives, and it was imperative that I read them IMMEDIATELY. (I'm actually serious about them being emotionally important: they inspired a novel idea and have been very instructive for me in the devices of popular fiction.) But they're not keepers: I'll be donating them to the library next week.
TOOLS, DEVICES, APPLIANCES, NECESSARY APPAREL
Oh holy MacBook. The stars are shining brightly. I cannot BELIEVE how much faster my life just got.
Prps boyfriend jeans, I cannot quit you. Amortizing your cost over a per-use basis is going to make you seem downright inexpensive. You also seem to be responsibly made. (I hope.)
Ever sweatshirt: I love you almost as much as HCB.
Elizabeth & James black t-shirt, Elie Tahari button-down blouse that ACTUALLY FITS WITHOUT ALTERATIONS, DVF sweater, Rag & Bone pencil skirt, Anthropologie chinos, and Nanette Lepore wool dress: you were all drastically reduced, extremely high quality, and desperately needed for wardrobe updating purposes. I feel certain that you will be effective and perennial members of my closet.
EVERYTHING ELSE
Nothing. So that feels pretty good...
Showing posts with label Quicken Earth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Quicken Earth. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Friday, January 2, 2009
Quicken Earth December: Nattie's Got Her Groove Back
While in Whole Foods yesterday, we passed a display of those FEED bags I have always found so endearing. I turned to HCB and said for the first time in 365 days, "You know, I could totally buy one of those if I wanted to."
I didn't. But I just wanted the world to know that I COULD. IF I WANTED TO. People, it's January 2, 2009 and I'm hereby reclaiming my purchasing power!
So, you ask, what divine wisdom have I gathered from my year of Not New? What magnificent personal transformation have I achieved with this protracted act of restraint? Well, I think I've learned a thing or two about stuff.
WARNING: if you are allergic to other people moralizing on your ass, skip the next six paragraphs and resume reading at "OOPS!".
First and most importantly, we have to stop expecting stuff to make us happy. It won't. Happiness doesn't take up closet space.
Second, stuff is not who you are. If you're anything like I was, you buy a whole bunch of stuff that you believe defines you but in actuality adds zero value and even makes your life more cumbersome. For instance, I used to covet books. Giving up my amazon.com addiction in favor of ordering my must-reads from the library is one of the best switches I've ever made. What I lost in bookshelf cred I gained in renewed sense of community, that awesome old book smell, eco smugness and ten fewer back-breaking boxes the next time I move.
That said, Not Buying is not the whole answer. We all have to function in the world as it exists. We need ergonomic chairs and classy rain coats and computers that heart web streaming. And even when we only buy good stuff, we occasionally need to replace it. The key is to THINK before you buy. It's not always easy, but it's crucial to try.
We need to ask questions about our stuff. How long will it last? Where did it come from? What and who did it touch on its way here? Can I responsibly repurpose, donate or dispose of it when its life cycle is complete? If shopping is our national pastime, then it's high time we started taking it seriously. Our purchasing power is just that - power. We can push trends, swing industries, demand quality, support ethical trade, encourage good design - all with the dollars in our pockets. We can no longer afford to be flippant about this role. It's the key to transitioning to a sustainable way of life.
At the end of the day, that means we all need to SLOW DOWN. Look honestly at the buying impulse - every time you feel it. Separate 'want' from 'need'. When there is a need, engage your creativity in meeting it. Prioritize quality over price. (And don't for one second try to pull the economic recession card here. Buying something good once is a helluva lot cheaper than buying the crappy version four times.) Inject the Golden Rule into your purchasing decisions. Practice curiosity: gather information, talk to friends. Google. Read eco blogs. (I'll help!) Send emails to manufacturers. I myself plan to become a one-woman nightmare for customer service representatives everywhere.
If we can all just slow down a bit, we're likely to make much better decisions. Yes life is short and fraught and incredibly busy and sometimes you just want to get 'er done. Resist that impulse. Life is also precious. Not just for you, but for the family in China who made your new duvet cover and the 220,000 people who died in 2008 from natural disasters that were likely intensified by global warming. You can afford a few minutes of research, an extra day to shop, a week to wait for a delivery.
In fact, it's the least we can do for each other.
And now that I'm done preachin' I'd like a drum roll, please...
OOPS!
JANUARY
one package glow-in-the-dark penis straws
one lingerie bag
assorted magazines and office paper products
FEBRUARY
nada
MARCH
Roxy apparel - not purchased, per se, but still new
APRIL
one pair cheap tawdry sunglasses
MAY
nada
JUNE
nada
JULY
nada
AUGUST
nada
SEPTEMBER
wedding gift for close friends - 355 days after the event
OCTOBER
H&M birthday contribution for HCB's sister
NOVEMBER
This is a new one I found in my notes from last month: I bought a Kathleen Edwards CD at the John Doe concert on November 14th. She was his concert cohort and her performance really touched me. So much so, it seems, that I temporarily let my buying guard down. Crap!
DECEMBER
Christmas presents for HCB nieces and nephews. I neither selected them nor ordered them nor shipped them, but I did pay for half of them. So it counts.
All told, not bad, methinks.
NECESSITIES
Not New thinking has translated into several improvements in this category as well: better trash awareness, sustainable skincare practices, much more Buying Local and buying in bulk, trying to get my veggie on, eco travel experimentation. To top it all off, next week I plan to fill my trusty TDI with biodiesel for the first time. Stay tuned.
CREATIVE CONSUMPTION (i.e. USED ARTICLES)
It's been wonderful to rediscover my love of vintage. The stuff I have purchased this year is distinctive and special to me - and it also happens to be much better quality. I plan to continue to live off the crumbs of rich ladies' closets as a stylie complement to the perfectly tailored new articles I'll be seeking out.
UP FOR DISCUSSION
I have declined the renewal of all of my magazine subscriptions except for Martha and the New York Times on Sundays. Once I get my high-powered new MacBook and can actually load Martha's site correctly, I may just give her the ax as well. The NYT is tough - I LOVE the ritual of reading the paper in the kitchen over a steaming cup of tea. But again, it all comes down to the laptop. I believe I can learn to love clicking to the next page. At least I'll try.
ABSTENTIONS
I'd like to thank a few people for their support over this year, as their contributions have allowed me to continue to abstain over and over again.
First, to my beloved HCB. Honey, thank you for endless inspiration - and for enduring irrational withdrawal symptoms, uncomfortable retail altercations, maniacal bloggery, and the manipulation of your persona for comedic effect. In so many ways, someonemightcare.com is my love letter to you.
Aunt Diane and Pat: you two have provided me with many unexpected material gifts throughout the year, without which I would have been much more prone to fall into a compromised retail position. Diane, you know I'll take your TJ Maxx/GoodWill/AngelView/back-of-the-closet castoffs any day! And Pat, the here-and-there Oakley swag always seemed to show up when I needed it most.
Jenn and her former associates of BCSF: thanks, ever so, for the pants.
And most of all, a big fat juicy loving THANK YOU to Rene, Jenn, Tom, Kate, Liza, Dave, JD, Matt, Kendra, Tracey, Fru, Sara, Craig, Shazzer, Jean, Gabriella, Laura and all the rest of you readers for your unwavering moral support, creative suggestions, and desire to read my daily drivel. I only hope that something I said or lived through was actually useful.
I didn't. But I just wanted the world to know that I COULD. IF I WANTED TO. People, it's January 2, 2009 and I'm hereby reclaiming my purchasing power!
So, you ask, what divine wisdom have I gathered from my year of Not New? What magnificent personal transformation have I achieved with this protracted act of restraint? Well, I think I've learned a thing or two about stuff.
WARNING: if you are allergic to other people moralizing on your ass, skip the next six paragraphs and resume reading at "OOPS!".
First and most importantly, we have to stop expecting stuff to make us happy. It won't. Happiness doesn't take up closet space.
Second, stuff is not who you are. If you're anything like I was, you buy a whole bunch of stuff that you believe defines you but in actuality adds zero value and even makes your life more cumbersome. For instance, I used to covet books. Giving up my amazon.com addiction in favor of ordering my must-reads from the library is one of the best switches I've ever made. What I lost in bookshelf cred I gained in renewed sense of community, that awesome old book smell, eco smugness and ten fewer back-breaking boxes the next time I move.
That said, Not Buying is not the whole answer. We all have to function in the world as it exists. We need ergonomic chairs and classy rain coats and computers that heart web streaming. And even when we only buy good stuff, we occasionally need to replace it. The key is to THINK before you buy. It's not always easy, but it's crucial to try.
We need to ask questions about our stuff. How long will it last? Where did it come from? What and who did it touch on its way here? Can I responsibly repurpose, donate or dispose of it when its life cycle is complete? If shopping is our national pastime, then it's high time we started taking it seriously. Our purchasing power is just that - power. We can push trends, swing industries, demand quality, support ethical trade, encourage good design - all with the dollars in our pockets. We can no longer afford to be flippant about this role. It's the key to transitioning to a sustainable way of life.
At the end of the day, that means we all need to SLOW DOWN. Look honestly at the buying impulse - every time you feel it. Separate 'want' from 'need'. When there is a need, engage your creativity in meeting it. Prioritize quality over price. (And don't for one second try to pull the economic recession card here. Buying something good once is a helluva lot cheaper than buying the crappy version four times.) Inject the Golden Rule into your purchasing decisions. Practice curiosity: gather information, talk to friends. Google. Read eco blogs. (I'll help!) Send emails to manufacturers. I myself plan to become a one-woman nightmare for customer service representatives everywhere.
If we can all just slow down a bit, we're likely to make much better decisions. Yes life is short and fraught and incredibly busy and sometimes you just want to get 'er done. Resist that impulse. Life is also precious. Not just for you, but for the family in China who made your new duvet cover and the 220,000 people who died in 2008 from natural disasters that were likely intensified by global warming. You can afford a few minutes of research, an extra day to shop, a week to wait for a delivery.
In fact, it's the least we can do for each other.
And now that I'm done preachin' I'd like a drum roll, please...
OOPS!
JANUARY
one package glow-in-the-dark penis straws
one lingerie bag
assorted magazines and office paper products
FEBRUARY
nada
MARCH
Roxy apparel - not purchased, per se, but still new
APRIL
one pair cheap tawdry sunglasses
MAY
nada
JUNE
nada
JULY
nada
AUGUST
nada
SEPTEMBER
wedding gift for close friends - 355 days after the event
OCTOBER
H&M birthday contribution for HCB's sister
NOVEMBER
This is a new one I found in my notes from last month: I bought a Kathleen Edwards CD at the John Doe concert on November 14th. She was his concert cohort and her performance really touched me. So much so, it seems, that I temporarily let my buying guard down. Crap!
DECEMBER
Christmas presents for HCB nieces and nephews. I neither selected them nor ordered them nor shipped them, but I did pay for half of them. So it counts.
All told, not bad, methinks.
NECESSITIES
Not New thinking has translated into several improvements in this category as well: better trash awareness, sustainable skincare practices, much more Buying Local and buying in bulk, trying to get my veggie on, eco travel experimentation. To top it all off, next week I plan to fill my trusty TDI with biodiesel for the first time. Stay tuned.
CREATIVE CONSUMPTION (i.e. USED ARTICLES)
It's been wonderful to rediscover my love of vintage. The stuff I have purchased this year is distinctive and special to me - and it also happens to be much better quality. I plan to continue to live off the crumbs of rich ladies' closets as a stylie complement to the perfectly tailored new articles I'll be seeking out.
UP FOR DISCUSSION
I have declined the renewal of all of my magazine subscriptions except for Martha and the New York Times on Sundays. Once I get my high-powered new MacBook and can actually load Martha's site correctly, I may just give her the ax as well. The NYT is tough - I LOVE the ritual of reading the paper in the kitchen over a steaming cup of tea. But again, it all comes down to the laptop. I believe I can learn to love clicking to the next page. At least I'll try.
ABSTENTIONS
I'd like to thank a few people for their support over this year, as their contributions have allowed me to continue to abstain over and over again.
First, to my beloved HCB. Honey, thank you for endless inspiration - and for enduring irrational withdrawal symptoms, uncomfortable retail altercations, maniacal bloggery, and the manipulation of your persona for comedic effect. In so many ways, someonemightcare.com is my love letter to you.
Aunt Diane and Pat: you two have provided me with many unexpected material gifts throughout the year, without which I would have been much more prone to fall into a compromised retail position. Diane, you know I'll take your TJ Maxx/GoodWill/AngelView/back-of-the-closet castoffs any day! And Pat, the here-and-there Oakley swag always seemed to show up when I needed it most.
Jenn and her former associates of BCSF: thanks, ever so, for the pants.
And most of all, a big fat juicy loving THANK YOU to Rene, Jenn, Tom, Kate, Liza, Dave, JD, Matt, Kendra, Tracey, Fru, Sara, Craig, Shazzer, Jean, Gabriella, Laura and all the rest of you readers for your unwavering moral support, creative suggestions, and desire to read my daily drivel. I only hope that something I said or lived through was actually useful.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Quicken Earth November: Finish Line In Sight
Here it is, the eve of my final month of avoiding Newness. Back in January when I told people about this experiment, they deemed me a nutbar and silently (or not so silently) wrote me off. I have to admit that I too had my doubts; after all, there are sales associates all over town who know me by first name. But now that I've made it 11 months without managing to look like a homeless person or Ed Begley Jr, the response is totally different. People are impressed. And I guess I'm proud. By no means have I been the vision of restraint throughout this process, but I have achieved my stated goal: to become more conscious of my consumption. More on that later.
OOPS!
If I had started buying Christmas presents for far-flung HCB nieces and nephews like I was supposed to, I'd have something to talk about here. Instead I'm just a bad aunt.
NECESSITIES
Same old, same old. Plus a hard-won turkey.
CREATIVE CONSUMPTION (i.e. USED ARTICLES)
Aforementioned roasting pan, batter bowl, and red shoes, plus mod teal necklace ($6)
and ethnic ceramic candlesticks that even HCB admires (99 cents each).
I'm telling you people: THE DESERT. Just drive down Highway 111 from Washington Street to downtown Palm Springs. It's like shooting fish in a barrel.
Oh! And a 1964 paperback issue of Ian Fleming's Diamonds are Forever (49 cents). It was a Bond Thanksgiving.
UP FOR DISCUSSION
This one is painful to admit. I was halfway to Renaissance Salon for my hair dye experiment when I realized I had left my camera at home. Now that you've seen how fierce Lucas is, I'm sure you can understand that being late for an appointment is not an option. And neither was not having a camera. SO I BOUGHT A KODAK FUNSAVER. TO DOCUMENT AN ECO EXPERIMENT. YES I SEE THE IRONY.
The good news is that I did some research, and it turns out that disposable cameras are the most recycled consumer product on the planet. With a recovery rate of 75%, they're even ahead of aluminum cans. Who knew? I then made sure that Walgreen's, the place where I had the camera processed, participated in the recycling program. They do. So I feel a little better. I'm not by any means advocating the use of these things - for God's sake, remember your damn digital camera. But whereas I originally planned to put this purchase in the Oops! column, I've moved it down here to the discussion section so that all you haters can tell me what you really think.
ABSTENTIONS
As I approach the finish line, all I can think about is a MacBook, an iPhone, and a good office chair. I've probably wasted a good month of my life this year devising work-arounds for my technology deficiencies. And my back is killing me.
OOPS!
If I had started buying Christmas presents for far-flung HCB nieces and nephews like I was supposed to, I'd have something to talk about here. Instead I'm just a bad aunt.
NECESSITIES
Same old, same old. Plus a hard-won turkey.
CREATIVE CONSUMPTION (i.e. USED ARTICLES)
Aforementioned roasting pan, batter bowl, and red shoes, plus mod teal necklace ($6)
and ethnic ceramic candlesticks that even HCB admires (99 cents each).
I'm telling you people: THE DESERT. Just drive down Highway 111 from Washington Street to downtown Palm Springs. It's like shooting fish in a barrel.
Oh! And a 1964 paperback issue of Ian Fleming's Diamonds are Forever (49 cents). It was a Bond Thanksgiving.
UP FOR DISCUSSION
This one is painful to admit. I was halfway to Renaissance Salon for my hair dye experiment when I realized I had left my camera at home. Now that you've seen how fierce Lucas is, I'm sure you can understand that being late for an appointment is not an option. And neither was not having a camera. SO I BOUGHT A KODAK FUNSAVER. TO DOCUMENT AN ECO EXPERIMENT. YES I SEE THE IRONY.
The good news is that I did some research, and it turns out that disposable cameras are the most recycled consumer product on the planet. With a recovery rate of 75%, they're even ahead of aluminum cans. Who knew? I then made sure that Walgreen's, the place where I had the camera processed, participated in the recycling program. They do. So I feel a little better. I'm not by any means advocating the use of these things - for God's sake, remember your damn digital camera. But whereas I originally planned to put this purchase in the Oops! column, I've moved it down here to the discussion section so that all you haters can tell me what you really think.
ABSTENTIONS
As I approach the finish line, all I can think about is a MacBook, an iPhone, and a good office chair. I've probably wasted a good month of my life this year devising work-arounds for my technology deficiencies. And my back is killing me.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Quicken Earth October: Sobriety Check
OOPS!
We went to Canada this month for a rash of HCB family birthdays. While there, I was asked to perform a What Not To Wear style intervention for his sister at the local H&M. Me, free to spend a year's worth of pent-up retail energy for the benefit of another: I ROCKED that joint. Forty-odd separates later, I decided to top off her gift certificate. I realize H&M is EXACTLY the kind of disposable retail establishment that I have spent this year weaning myself from, but look, you just had to be there. She's a hot-looking, hardworking mom of three who SO deserved this splurge, and she was so happy to see herself looking fine. I consider it the gift of style. And I don't feel guilty about it. At All.
NECESSITIES
A couple nights before we left for Canada, I crashed my bicycle on the bastard MUNI tracks and sprained my ankle. Which sucked. I CURSE THEE, MUNI TRACKS. But I suppose it's a rite of passage. Seems everyone who's ever perched their butt on a bike seat in the 7x7 has eaten it on those tracks. In any case, I had to buy a couple of ACE bandages. And a few extra bottles of wine.
CREATIVE CONSUMPTION (i.e. USED ARTICLES)
I bought myself an early birthday present in the form of an oh-so delicate antique gold heart necklace at one of my de rigeur vintage stops, Elle Meme. (I'd show you a picture, but my camera is out of batteries and I can't find the charger.) I challenge you to go there and not feel special.
UP FOR DISCUSSION
Nothing fuzzy this month, apart from the shotgun trial subscription to Vegetarian Times - which I have already aborted.
ABSTENTIONS
The annual HOES chaos included getting this close to asking my friend Craig to buy me a giant beer can costume from the Halloween SuperStore. (It sounded insulating, and possibly waterproof.)
Thankfully I was able to summon the strength to Just Say No.
We went to Canada this month for a rash of HCB family birthdays. While there, I was asked to perform a What Not To Wear style intervention for his sister at the local H&M. Me, free to spend a year's worth of pent-up retail energy for the benefit of another: I ROCKED that joint. Forty-odd separates later, I decided to top off her gift certificate. I realize H&M is EXACTLY the kind of disposable retail establishment that I have spent this year weaning myself from, but look, you just had to be there. She's a hot-looking, hardworking mom of three who SO deserved this splurge, and she was so happy to see herself looking fine. I consider it the gift of style. And I don't feel guilty about it. At All.
NECESSITIES
A couple nights before we left for Canada, I crashed my bicycle on the bastard MUNI tracks and sprained my ankle. Which sucked. I CURSE THEE, MUNI TRACKS. But I suppose it's a rite of passage. Seems everyone who's ever perched their butt on a bike seat in the 7x7 has eaten it on those tracks. In any case, I had to buy a couple of ACE bandages. And a few extra bottles of wine.
CREATIVE CONSUMPTION (i.e. USED ARTICLES)
I bought myself an early birthday present in the form of an oh-so delicate antique gold heart necklace at one of my de rigeur vintage stops, Elle Meme. (I'd show you a picture, but my camera is out of batteries and I can't find the charger.) I challenge you to go there and not feel special.
UP FOR DISCUSSION
Nothing fuzzy this month, apart from the shotgun trial subscription to Vegetarian Times - which I have already aborted.
ABSTENTIONS
The annual HOES chaos included getting this close to asking my friend Craig to buy me a giant beer can costume from the Halloween SuperStore. (It sounded insulating, and possibly waterproof.)
Thankfully I was able to summon the strength to Just Say No.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Quicken Earth September: Spending Disincentives
What with the Wall Street crisis, car repairs, and hacking my way through actual Quicken for 2007, the only thing I wanted to buy last month was gold ingots.
OOPS!
Wedding gift kerfuffle: HCB and I went halfsies on a New gift for our married friends. But since the wedding was last year (we're A-holes), I'm sort of pretending that it doesn't count.
NECESSITIES
I'm finally getting the hang of bulk buying at Rainbow. I've always preferred to buy my flour there (they have EVERY possible variety), but now I'm refilling jars of honey, bottles of olive oil, grains, nuts, dried beans...even pasta. It doesn't hurt that HCB came home with these cute vintage containers from the GoodWill.
I tell you, nothing makes a girl feel more self-satisfied than reducing household waste. Especially if it's done in style.
CREATIVE CONSUMPTION (i.e. USED ARTICLES)
There was this one little spurge...I was in my favorite store, Cookin', when I spotted this perfectly preserved, utterly adorable vintage Dru cast iron oven. It's just like the one my friend Amy has in PA.
Amy, I'm afraid this is merely Step One in my attempt to Single White Female you.
And then there was this tiny $5 windfall at a garage sale a few weekends ago:
I love tiny vases, HCB hates them. It's called Keeping Our Love Life Spicy.
UP FOR DISCUSSION
I hardly ever print. Really. But even the printing-averse occasionally have to buy ink. I'm inclined to think this can be considered a consumable, since it's similar to pens, dish soap, tissues, sponges, fire wood, etc.
OH and the car parts. That was really out of my hands, but since I don't technically NEED my car (no commute, easy public transport, bicycle), I still feel a little guilty about it. Or is that just residual anger?
ABSTENTIONS
I do wish the voice track would line up with Tina Fey's mouth when I watch Palin impersonations on old Carrie Bradshaw, but I'm getting the gist. And it sure is nice not to have $3K on my credit card right about now...
OOPS!
Wedding gift kerfuffle: HCB and I went halfsies on a New gift for our married friends. But since the wedding was last year (we're A-holes), I'm sort of pretending that it doesn't count.
NECESSITIES
I'm finally getting the hang of bulk buying at Rainbow. I've always preferred to buy my flour there (they have EVERY possible variety), but now I'm refilling jars of honey, bottles of olive oil, grains, nuts, dried beans...even pasta. It doesn't hurt that HCB came home with these cute vintage containers from the GoodWill.
I tell you, nothing makes a girl feel more self-satisfied than reducing household waste. Especially if it's done in style.
CREATIVE CONSUMPTION (i.e. USED ARTICLES)
There was this one little spurge...I was in my favorite store, Cookin', when I spotted this perfectly preserved, utterly adorable vintage Dru cast iron oven. It's just like the one my friend Amy has in PA.
Amy, I'm afraid this is merely Step One in my attempt to Single White Female you.
And then there was this tiny $5 windfall at a garage sale a few weekends ago:
I love tiny vases, HCB hates them. It's called Keeping Our Love Life Spicy.
UP FOR DISCUSSION
I hardly ever print. Really. But even the printing-averse occasionally have to buy ink. I'm inclined to think this can be considered a consumable, since it's similar to pens, dish soap, tissues, sponges, fire wood, etc.
OH and the car parts. That was really out of my hands, but since I don't technically NEED my car (no commute, easy public transport, bicycle), I still feel a little guilty about it. Or is that just residual anger?
ABSTENTIONS
I do wish the voice track would line up with Tina Fey's mouth when I watch Palin impersonations on old Carrie Bradshaw, but I'm getting the gist. And it sure is nice not to have $3K on my credit card right about now...
Friday, September 5, 2008
Quicken Earth August: Like Shooting Fish in a Barrel
As you know, I spent the latter half of August en route.
Not that I want to spend this time endorsing shopping, but People, I tell you: there are some incredible gently used treasures waiting for you in thrift stores all across this fine nation. I'm not talking about those hipster hotspots with all the Dwell back issues and the hulking price tags. These vendors, they don't know what they have! They don't know how to price it! They are waiting for you to give it a better home! If you intentionally mismatch your socks and know who Saarinen is, I suggest you hit the road - with a U Haul. And er, then buy some carbon credits?
As for all you guys mocking me behind my screen for once again blogging about shopping on a blog that's about NOT shopping? Suck it. This post is a public service message.
OOPS!
No transgressions to report.
NECESSITIES
As per usual.
CREATIVE CONSUMPTION (i.e. USED ARTICLES)
Wow do I love thrifting in second-tier cities and fishing villages. In Glenside, PA, I found a classic lobster mold, a kitschy flowered tablecloth, and an ancient copy of The House of Seven Gables. In the crab capitol of Rock Hall, MD, I found California pottery, Bakelite bangles, '60's aprons, and all manner of fantastic vintage jewelry. And all of it, ALL OF IT, at a quarter of the price it would be here.
[Check out that sexy tablecloth!]
[Julia, Lane and Amy, my lovely PA guides]
UP FOR DISCUSSION
I had to buy a map to get around New York. It was either that or get lost forever in the West Village. (Where I ask you, WHERE does 4th Avenue come from??) So I got one of those laminated dealies to keep me from ever having to buy another one.
ABSTENTIONS
I really REALLY wanted one of these crab hats to commemorate my time in Rock Hall, so I tried really REALLY HARD to win one at the Anchor Toss event I attended.
Sadly, I did not prevail. I was thusly forced to pine for them at the local waterfront restaurant/souvenir shop.
Not that I want to spend this time endorsing shopping, but People, I tell you: there are some incredible gently used treasures waiting for you in thrift stores all across this fine nation. I'm not talking about those hipster hotspots with all the Dwell back issues and the hulking price tags. These vendors, they don't know what they have! They don't know how to price it! They are waiting for you to give it a better home! If you intentionally mismatch your socks and know who Saarinen is, I suggest you hit the road - with a U Haul. And er, then buy some carbon credits?
As for all you guys mocking me behind my screen for once again blogging about shopping on a blog that's about NOT shopping? Suck it. This post is a public service message.
OOPS!
No transgressions to report.
NECESSITIES
As per usual.
CREATIVE CONSUMPTION (i.e. USED ARTICLES)
Wow do I love thrifting in second-tier cities and fishing villages. In Glenside, PA, I found a classic lobster mold, a kitschy flowered tablecloth, and an ancient copy of The House of Seven Gables. In the crab capitol of Rock Hall, MD, I found California pottery, Bakelite bangles, '60's aprons, and all manner of fantastic vintage jewelry. And all of it, ALL OF IT, at a quarter of the price it would be here.
[Check out that sexy tablecloth!]
[Julia, Lane and Amy, my lovely PA guides]
UP FOR DISCUSSION
I had to buy a map to get around New York. It was either that or get lost forever in the West Village. (Where I ask you, WHERE does 4th Avenue come from??) So I got one of those laminated dealies to keep me from ever having to buy another one.
ABSTENTIONS
I really REALLY wanted one of these crab hats to commemorate my time in Rock Hall, so I tried really REALLY HARD to win one at the Anchor Toss event I attended.
Sadly, I did not prevail. I was thusly forced to pine for them at the local waterfront restaurant/souvenir shop.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Quicken Earth July: Stripper Supplies
I'm guessing you've noticed by now that the conversation around here has expanded beyond the Not New. That's because I'm bored out of my mind talking about it. Aren't you?? All the buying and not buying and wanting and refusing to want...I've settled into a sort of acceptance of it. I am, how you say, blasé.
That doesn't mean I'm no longer committed to it (I am) or that the funny/frustrating/tormenting stuff doesn't happen anymore (it does), but the eco run-off from this experiment is what's exciting to me now. So I'm giving it some turntables and a microphone. Thought I should warn you that you're in for more.
Now back to your regularly scheduled buying and not buying and wanting and refusing...
OOPS!
Alyssa and I are the organizing committee for Sara's bachelorette party this weekend, so in addition to booking cabins and arranging rides and planning meals, we've engaged in a protracted conversation re: obligatory penis paraphernalia. Being that I cannot buy any new penises, Sara is probably safe. But the whole episode reminded me - with horror! - that I DID BUY NEW PENISES IN JANUARY. In a nod to the Bachelorette Gestalt, I purchased a packet of glow-in-the-dark man sword straws for Liza's bachelorette dinner, from which we slurped our Prosecco and took many a jolly photo.
So, to date:
Jan 11: one lingerie bag
April 27: one pair cheap tawdry sunglasses
Jan 10: one package glow-in-the-dark penis straws
My friend Craig always does this thing where, when I pull off some ridiculous dance move, he tries to guess what I'm doing. Example: I'll be doing the cabbage patch, and he'll be like "You're stirring risotto!" "You're winding Big Ben!" "You're driving a cable car!" etc. Right now I'm imagining what he'd say if he applied the same deductive reasoning to this list.
NECESSITIES
I picked up three new pairs of undies and a bra while in TJ Maxx. It's allowed, and it was time.
Aside: I once read an eco hipster in Domino argue that shopping at places like TJ Maxx is actually earth-friendly because they sell overstocks from other stores. This makes almost no sense to me, but I'll just keep it in the old back pocket as my Chewbacca defense.
CREATIVE CONSUMPTION (i.e. USED ARTICLES)
As you may recall, I celebrated our nation's independence by going vintage shopping in Palm Springs and Venice Beach and consignment shopping in Orange County. Let's just say I was feeling really patriotic.
UP FOR DISCUSSION
To that point, behold this adorable purveyor of new and reworked vintage fashion, Madley, in Venice Beach:
While trolling the racks with my cohort Kendra, I found the finest maxi dress in all the Kingdom:
You see that there? Nice lines, good length, cute pattern, and most importantly, no mumu-ism. Obviously I had to have it. But only after 25 minutes of pacing and lip-biting and even requesting a phone call to the designer, Luxury Jones in Portland, to find out if the fabric was indeed vintage/reworked. Her response: she didn't remember where the fabric for that specific dress came from (though she did know the specific dress), but she'd had it forever and she almost exclusively buys remnants and vintage anyway. Is it time to pull out the Chewbacca defense yet?
ABSTENTIONS
I'm cool, Peeps. It's getting to the point that I'm prejudiced AGAINST new stuff. New stuff is so...pedestrian. Let them wear J.Crew.
That doesn't mean I'm no longer committed to it (I am) or that the funny/frustrating/tormenting stuff doesn't happen anymore (it does), but the eco run-off from this experiment is what's exciting to me now. So I'm giving it some turntables and a microphone. Thought I should warn you that you're in for more.
Now back to your regularly scheduled buying and not buying and wanting and refusing...
OOPS!
Alyssa and I are the organizing committee for Sara's bachelorette party this weekend, so in addition to booking cabins and arranging rides and planning meals, we've engaged in a protracted conversation re: obligatory penis paraphernalia. Being that I cannot buy any new penises, Sara is probably safe. But the whole episode reminded me - with horror! - that I DID BUY NEW PENISES IN JANUARY. In a nod to the Bachelorette Gestalt, I purchased a packet of glow-in-the-dark man sword straws for Liza's bachelorette dinner, from which we slurped our Prosecco and took many a jolly photo.
So, to date:
Jan 11: one lingerie bag
April 27: one pair cheap tawdry sunglasses
Jan 10: one package glow-in-the-dark penis straws
My friend Craig always does this thing where, when I pull off some ridiculous dance move, he tries to guess what I'm doing. Example: I'll be doing the cabbage patch, and he'll be like "You're stirring risotto!" "You're winding Big Ben!" "You're driving a cable car!" etc. Right now I'm imagining what he'd say if he applied the same deductive reasoning to this list.
NECESSITIES
I picked up three new pairs of undies and a bra while in TJ Maxx. It's allowed, and it was time.
Aside: I once read an eco hipster in Domino argue that shopping at places like TJ Maxx is actually earth-friendly because they sell overstocks from other stores. This makes almost no sense to me, but I'll just keep it in the old back pocket as my Chewbacca defense.
CREATIVE CONSUMPTION (i.e. USED ARTICLES)
As you may recall, I celebrated our nation's independence by going vintage shopping in Palm Springs and Venice Beach and consignment shopping in Orange County. Let's just say I was feeling really patriotic.
UP FOR DISCUSSION
To that point, behold this adorable purveyor of new and reworked vintage fashion, Madley, in Venice Beach:
While trolling the racks with my cohort Kendra, I found the finest maxi dress in all the Kingdom:
You see that there? Nice lines, good length, cute pattern, and most importantly, no mumu-ism. Obviously I had to have it. But only after 25 minutes of pacing and lip-biting and even requesting a phone call to the designer, Luxury Jones in Portland, to find out if the fabric was indeed vintage/reworked. Her response: she didn't remember where the fabric for that specific dress came from (though she did know the specific dress), but she'd had it forever and she almost exclusively buys remnants and vintage anyway. Is it time to pull out the Chewbacca defense yet?
ABSTENTIONS
I'm cool, Peeps. It's getting to the point that I'm prejudiced AGAINST new stuff. New stuff is so...pedestrian. Let them wear J.Crew.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Quicken Earth June: Blah Blah Blah
Let's make this quick. I've already got a whole bunch of July to talk about.
OOPS!
New stuff is dead to me.
NECESSITIES
Normally I make myself giggle by posting a photographic representation of my monthly wine intake here. The ripple was indeed imbibed. But I also ran out of ridiculously expensive caustic cosmeceuticals, and with the advice and consent of Sue Upton, Skin Care Genius, I decided to try out some new ridiculously expensive biodynamic skin care in its stead. Of course I'm already in love with it. But the topic bears further discussion. Later.
CREATIVE CONSUMPTION (i.e. USED ARTICLES)
I was brutally attacked by three excellent summery dresses while walking past Crossroads on the way to my new office-away-from-the-office, The Grove. (I don't know, there's something about their salads I find comforting.)
UP FOR DISCUSSION
I am too busy to bother with gray areas.
ABSTENTIONS
I don't recall wanting anything this month except a vacation. And the ability to make people bend to my will.
Oh, also: I don't really count this as an abstention, but HCB thinks I need a new bike seat. The mushy top layer of the one I have is starting to peel, and it leaves these little pieces of rubber on my butt every time I ride it. In a stunning role reversal, I'm advocating a washcloth and the judicious application of duct tape.
OOPS!
New stuff is dead to me.
NECESSITIES
Normally I make myself giggle by posting a photographic representation of my monthly wine intake here. The ripple was indeed imbibed. But I also ran out of ridiculously expensive caustic cosmeceuticals, and with the advice and consent of Sue Upton, Skin Care Genius, I decided to try out some new ridiculously expensive biodynamic skin care in its stead. Of course I'm already in love with it. But the topic bears further discussion. Later.
CREATIVE CONSUMPTION (i.e. USED ARTICLES)
I was brutally attacked by three excellent summery dresses while walking past Crossroads on the way to my new office-away-from-the-office, The Grove. (I don't know, there's something about their salads I find comforting.)
UP FOR DISCUSSION
I am too busy to bother with gray areas.
ABSTENTIONS
I don't recall wanting anything this month except a vacation. And the ability to make people bend to my will.
Oh, also: I don't really count this as an abstention, but HCB thinks I need a new bike seat. The mushy top layer of the one I have is starting to peel, and it leaves these little pieces of rubber on my butt every time I ride it. In a stunning role reversal, I'm advocating a washcloth and the judicious application of duct tape.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Quicken Earth May: Paradise Lost, and Found
You may have noticed a decided lack of blogtivity this last month: all my words have been reserved for paying clients. Which is another way of saying that I am this close to having more work than me wee brain cells can process. Which is another way of saying that I am (or will be) rolling in loads of cash that I cannot spend on impulse buys.
So I'm thinking about absconding to Morocco instead. Doesn't this look like Heaven?
OOPS!
I didn't really elaborate on this earlier, but holy sweet mother of god JESUS did I come close to breaking the rules during that bout of BLPOES (Book Launch Party Outfit Emergency Syndrome) a few weeks back. See Abstentions for the unabridged account.
Also, Wasteland wouldn't take those stupid sunglasses back, so I guess I have my second new purchase to claim. (First one: accidental lingerie bag on Jan 11.)
This is disappointing and just...bogus. I always figured that if I faltered, it would be for something really last-a-lifetime GOOD. Like tender virgin baby cashmere loungewear, or the most luxurious and comfortable couch in the universe. Instead, I ended up with two totally nonessential, totally nonglamorous Made-in-China pieces of crap, all because I wasn't paying enough attention.
But I suppose that underscores the point now, doesn't it? Conscious consumption. Aka: try to be, like, actually awake when you approach a cash register.
NECESSITIES
(To be perfectly honest, I think I exceeded this bottle count.)
CREATIVE CONSUMPTION (i.e. USED ARTICLES)
I feel as though most of my month--or at least my consumption this month--was defined by BLPOES. The following is a list of previously owned items I purchased while searching for that ever-elusive perfect outfit:
classic vintage short wool trench: $50
designer eggshell bracelet-sleeve leather jacket with 'glamorous sleuth' collar: $211
fire engine red silk DKNY blouse: $59
shiny black self-buckle belt: $25
Barney's wafer thin heather cotton cardigan with handmade buttons: $59
three ridiculously expensive (but amazing) vintage Lucite bracelets: $58 each
one ridiculously expensive vintage sterling silver heart lock necklace: $209
and one Batik-esque booby cotton dress/top/schmatta (with handy pockets!): $8
Total: $736
I know what you're saying. You're saying I'm a complete lunatic. You are not entirely wrong. I was flung into a state of temporary madness by BLPOES. I bought more than I should have, I paid more than I should have, I spent more than I should have. But the important thing is that I did not succumb to Newness. (Also: I really love everything.)
And I know what else you're saying. You're saying that I just told you I was absconding to Morocco because I can't use my cash for impulse buying, and yet I spent $736 last month on impulse buys.
Oh Honey.
These were not impulse buys. It took the better part of a week to uncover this stuff from the endless color-coded racks of rich people's fashion detritus. I missed deadlines to uncover this stuff. I sweated and fretted and LABORED to find this stuff. I never wanted to shop AGAIN after finding this stuff. For serious. Shopping vintage is HARD. And if you're busy with work, there's simply no time for it. Hence Morocco. (Clearly still hacking away at that deeply ingrained need to BUY! BUY! SPEND! SPEND! BUY!)
UP FOR DISCUSSION
Sometimes (only sometimes) I buy magazines while trapped in airports. (Ignore, for a moment, the fact that I'm single-handedly killing biomes with my frequent flyer miles.) But I leave the mags at the laundromat when I'm done with them, for the reading pleasure of others. Think that counts as recycling? (Don't answer that.)
ABSTENTIONS
Picture it: Day Four of BLPOES. I was tired. I was sweaty. I hadn't eaten lunch. I had torn through no fewer than five vintage shops over a period of three hours. And then it appeared in front of me, shimmering like an outfit oasis: Ambiance, the world's most intentionally crowded boutique full of good and easy-to-wear trends. I told myself a blatant lie to justify crossing the threshold: that the experience would make a funny blog post. Foolhardy indeed. With laser precision, I zeroed in on a cobalt-and-ocre cotton cut-lace minidress and a seafoam silk Nanette Lepore boho blouse with lime green embroidery. Both perfectly fitting (and perfect-fitting) options, both on sale. To buy them would be to put an end to my woes with five minutes of work and $300. After deliberating in the dressing room for all of 45 seconds, I did the walk of shame to the register, shaking with every step. I put the items on hold. I walked out of the store. I made SOS calls. I actually cried. I drove to Cris and bought aforementioned (and entirely unnecessary) leather jacket: the equivalent of tossing Jenna Jameson into the volcano, hoping Pelé doesn't notice the substitution. And then, with time, wine and sage council, the crisis passed.
You know the words that really helped me through it? That this blog is bigger (at least for me and all ten of my readers) than one outfit on one night for fashion snobs who might not even show up. That the (admittedly cute) easy way out would only disappoint us in the end. So true. Thank you, Internet, (and thank you, Rene and Jenn), for reminding me of what was really at stake.
So I'm thinking about absconding to Morocco instead. Doesn't this look like Heaven?
OOPS!
I didn't really elaborate on this earlier, but holy sweet mother of god JESUS did I come close to breaking the rules during that bout of BLPOES (Book Launch Party Outfit Emergency Syndrome) a few weeks back. See Abstentions for the unabridged account.
Also, Wasteland wouldn't take those stupid sunglasses back, so I guess I have my second new purchase to claim. (First one: accidental lingerie bag on Jan 11.)
This is disappointing and just...bogus. I always figured that if I faltered, it would be for something really last-a-lifetime GOOD. Like tender virgin baby cashmere loungewear, or the most luxurious and comfortable couch in the universe. Instead, I ended up with two totally nonessential, totally nonglamorous Made-in-China pieces of crap, all because I wasn't paying enough attention.
But I suppose that underscores the point now, doesn't it? Conscious consumption. Aka: try to be, like, actually awake when you approach a cash register.
NECESSITIES
(To be perfectly honest, I think I exceeded this bottle count.)
CREATIVE CONSUMPTION (i.e. USED ARTICLES)
I feel as though most of my month--or at least my consumption this month--was defined by BLPOES. The following is a list of previously owned items I purchased while searching for that ever-elusive perfect outfit:
classic vintage short wool trench: $50
designer eggshell bracelet-sleeve leather jacket with 'glamorous sleuth' collar: $211
fire engine red silk DKNY blouse: $59
shiny black self-buckle belt: $25
Barney's wafer thin heather cotton cardigan with handmade buttons: $59
three ridiculously expensive (but amazing) vintage Lucite bracelets: $58 each
one ridiculously expensive vintage sterling silver heart lock necklace: $209
and one Batik-esque booby cotton dress/top/schmatta (with handy pockets!): $8
Total: $736
I know what you're saying. You're saying I'm a complete lunatic. You are not entirely wrong. I was flung into a state of temporary madness by BLPOES. I bought more than I should have, I paid more than I should have, I spent more than I should have. But the important thing is that I did not succumb to Newness. (Also: I really love everything.)
And I know what else you're saying. You're saying that I just told you I was absconding to Morocco because I can't use my cash for impulse buying, and yet I spent $736 last month on impulse buys.
Oh Honey.
These were not impulse buys. It took the better part of a week to uncover this stuff from the endless color-coded racks of rich people's fashion detritus. I missed deadlines to uncover this stuff. I sweated and fretted and LABORED to find this stuff. I never wanted to shop AGAIN after finding this stuff. For serious. Shopping vintage is HARD. And if you're busy with work, there's simply no time for it. Hence Morocco. (Clearly still hacking away at that deeply ingrained need to BUY! BUY! SPEND! SPEND! BUY!)
UP FOR DISCUSSION
Sometimes (only sometimes) I buy magazines while trapped in airports. (Ignore, for a moment, the fact that I'm single-handedly killing biomes with my frequent flyer miles.) But I leave the mags at the laundromat when I'm done with them, for the reading pleasure of others. Think that counts as recycling? (Don't answer that.)
ABSTENTIONS
Picture it: Day Four of BLPOES. I was tired. I was sweaty. I hadn't eaten lunch. I had torn through no fewer than five vintage shops over a period of three hours. And then it appeared in front of me, shimmering like an outfit oasis: Ambiance, the world's most intentionally crowded boutique full of good and easy-to-wear trends. I told myself a blatant lie to justify crossing the threshold: that the experience would make a funny blog post. Foolhardy indeed. With laser precision, I zeroed in on a cobalt-and-ocre cotton cut-lace minidress and a seafoam silk Nanette Lepore boho blouse with lime green embroidery. Both perfectly fitting (and perfect-fitting) options, both on sale. To buy them would be to put an end to my woes with five minutes of work and $300. After deliberating in the dressing room for all of 45 seconds, I did the walk of shame to the register, shaking with every step. I put the items on hold. I walked out of the store. I made SOS calls. I actually cried. I drove to Cris and bought aforementioned (and entirely unnecessary) leather jacket: the equivalent of tossing Jenna Jameson into the volcano, hoping Pelé doesn't notice the substitution. And then, with time, wine and sage council, the crisis passed.
You know the words that really helped me through it? That this blog is bigger (at least for me and all ten of my readers) than one outfit on one night for fashion snobs who might not even show up. That the (admittedly cute) easy way out would only disappoint us in the end. So true. Thank you, Internet, (and thank you, Rene and Jenn), for reminding me of what was really at stake.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Quicken Earth April: Something Feels Different
I don't know if it was all the Trashcessorizing, or maybe just iMovie fatique, but I was EXCITED to write my monthly tally today. I looked FORWARD to it. If that doesn't say something, I don't know what does.
(Wait, what does it say?)
OOPS!
Okay, this is sort of a bad one: I bought this hideous pair of NEW cheap, crappy plastic throwaway sunglasses for a costume theme weekend (Studio 54 Diva) in LAS VEGAS (leaving in an hour).
I know, that's like...onetwothreefour FIVE bad words all in one sentence. As for the glasses, I bought them at Wasteland to go with this resplendent vintage article:
Maybe I was lulled into a false sense of security by the sweet, acrid smell of peoples' old clothes? Anyway, I'm taking those bastard glasses back.
As for Vegas, I KNOW, I KNOW. It's like I did that whole week of trashcessorizing as (p)repentance for three days in the most wasteful town in the world. (And don't even get me started on the jet fuel guilt.)
I never said I was an angel.
NECESSITIES
CREATIVE CONSUMPTION
You've already heard about how handily I dispatched with the $160 and change I saved from returning the Purchase Whose Name We Shall Not Speak.
UP FOR DISCUSSION
It's a black and white world this month. And I'm in the black.
ABSTENTIONS
I'm not sure you're going to believe me, but I don't really want for anything at the moment. Very happy with my current stable of jeans. Loving the thrift/consignment excursions. Enjoying my stolen moments with Dante's old iPod. iPhone is dead to me. Have been offered not one but TWO gently used laptops to replace Carrie. (Though I appreciate her sexy curves, it really is time for her to retire.)
So I'm all good. The only thing I really crave these days is more time with HCB. Because he's rad.
Okay, and maybe I think about this rug:
But only when it's late at night and I've had too many glasses of Sauvignon Blanc.
(Wait, what does it say?)
OOPS!
Okay, this is sort of a bad one: I bought this hideous pair of NEW cheap, crappy plastic throwaway sunglasses for a costume theme weekend (Studio 54 Diva) in LAS VEGAS (leaving in an hour).
I know, that's like...onetwothreefour FIVE bad words all in one sentence. As for the glasses, I bought them at Wasteland to go with this resplendent vintage article:
Maybe I was lulled into a false sense of security by the sweet, acrid smell of peoples' old clothes? Anyway, I'm taking those bastard glasses back.
As for Vegas, I KNOW, I KNOW. It's like I did that whole week of trashcessorizing as (p)repentance for three days in the most wasteful town in the world. (And don't even get me started on the jet fuel guilt.)
I never said I was an angel.
NECESSITIES
CREATIVE CONSUMPTION
You've already heard about how handily I dispatched with the $160 and change I saved from returning the Purchase Whose Name We Shall Not Speak.
UP FOR DISCUSSION
It's a black and white world this month. And I'm in the black.
ABSTENTIONS
I'm not sure you're going to believe me, but I don't really want for anything at the moment. Very happy with my current stable of jeans. Loving the thrift/consignment excursions. Enjoying my stolen moments with Dante's old iPod. iPhone is dead to me. Have been offered not one but TWO gently used laptops to replace Carrie. (Though I appreciate her sexy curves, it really is time for her to retire.)
So I'm all good. The only thing I really crave these days is more time with HCB. Because he's rad.
Okay, and maybe I think about this rug:
But only when it's late at night and I've had too many glasses of Sauvignon Blanc.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Quicken Earth March: A Celebration of Mixed Metaphor
Self-righteousness, Cynicism, Avoidance and Guilt.
Desafortunatamente, these are the sharks you'll find circling the sustainability movement. As in:
"I drive a hybrid, Bitch."
"You're just hopping on yesterday's turnip truck."
"This shit is confusing! Why is it my problem?"
and
"[insert your pick of my confessional blog entries here]"
Actually, I've perpetrated all of these attitudes, as has just about everybody with an affinity for polar bear cubs. Maybe it's natural to react with negativity when we're all bobbing around in the unknown sans proper water safety apparel, holding our breath as the sea level rises.
But I'd like to recommend we try a new tack:
Let's all order a Claim Jumper-sized entrée of HOPE, with a starter salad of FUN and two generous sides of OPEN-MINDEDNESS and TRYING OUR BEST. (And an entire Red Delicious apple for garnish, as is the custom.)
Oh, and you guys? The ones muttering under your breath that we're all gonna drown anyway? (I know you're there: I can hear you chewing with your mouths open.) You guys should order the 10-pound slice of chocolate cake for dessert. There's no attitude a hearty baked good can't adjust.
OOPS! (Formerly known as SINS)
There was some free stuff. But I'll tell you this: it was an act of restraint compared with orders past. Usually I get seduced by cha-cha bikinis, age-inappropriate sundresses, boardshorts (operative word: short) and hoochie skirts too microscopic to ever see the 55-degree San Francisco light of day. By my previous standards, I kept it real.
NECESSITIES (Formerly known as ADMISSIBLE NECESSITIES)
CREATIVE CONSUMPTION (Formerly known as PREVIOUSLY OWNED FRIVOLITIES)
Dudes! I didn't even go to Cris! Is it possible that I am beginning to wean myself from the ways of the wallet?
Also, because I do not wish to make him a crutch, let's recall that HCB brought home that lovely food processor.
UP FOR DISCUSSION (Formerly known as TECHNICALITIES)
Brandi gave me a tee shirt, but I'm inclined to declare all items promoting independent singer/songwriters exempt from scrutiny. (Also, it's very attractive and looks good with my hair color.)
Gifts are always tough. Nobody wants to be the Green Grinch. So I got Grandma a basket of tulip bulbs for her birthday. (Which happens to be today. Happy Bday, you adorable April Fool!) Origins of the basket aside, I'm digging the plant option.
ABSTENTIONS
I'm still thinking about this baby.
And I *may* have perused yet another J. Crew catalog, thereby discovering the Shoe of the Month Club. But their footwear pinches my feet. So Mickey can suck it.
Desafortunatamente, these are the sharks you'll find circling the sustainability movement. As in:
"I drive a hybrid, Bitch."
"You're just hopping on yesterday's turnip truck."
"This shit is confusing! Why is it my problem?"
and
"[insert your pick of my confessional blog entries here]"
Actually, I've perpetrated all of these attitudes, as has just about everybody with an affinity for polar bear cubs. Maybe it's natural to react with negativity when we're all bobbing around in the unknown sans proper water safety apparel, holding our breath as the sea level rises.
But I'd like to recommend we try a new tack:
Let's all order a Claim Jumper-sized entrée of HOPE, with a starter salad of FUN and two generous sides of OPEN-MINDEDNESS and TRYING OUR BEST. (And an entire Red Delicious apple for garnish, as is the custom.)
Oh, and you guys? The ones muttering under your breath that we're all gonna drown anyway? (I know you're there: I can hear you chewing with your mouths open.) You guys should order the 10-pound slice of chocolate cake for dessert. There's no attitude a hearty baked good can't adjust.
OOPS! (Formerly known as SINS)
There was some free stuff. But I'll tell you this: it was an act of restraint compared with orders past. Usually I get seduced by cha-cha bikinis, age-inappropriate sundresses, boardshorts (operative word: short) and hoochie skirts too microscopic to ever see the 55-degree San Francisco light of day. By my previous standards, I kept it real.
NECESSITIES (Formerly known as ADMISSIBLE NECESSITIES)
CREATIVE CONSUMPTION (Formerly known as PREVIOUSLY OWNED FRIVOLITIES)
Dudes! I didn't even go to Cris! Is it possible that I am beginning to wean myself from the ways of the wallet?
Also, because I do not wish to make him a crutch, let's recall that HCB brought home that lovely food processor.
UP FOR DISCUSSION (Formerly known as TECHNICALITIES)
Brandi gave me a tee shirt, but I'm inclined to declare all items promoting independent singer/songwriters exempt from scrutiny. (Also, it's very attractive and looks good with my hair color.)
Gifts are always tough. Nobody wants to be the Green Grinch. So I got Grandma a basket of tulip bulbs for her birthday. (Which happens to be today. Happy Bday, you adorable April Fool!) Origins of the basket aside, I'm digging the plant option.
ABSTENTIONS
I'm still thinking about this baby.
And I *may* have perused yet another J. Crew catalog, thereby discovering the Shoe of the Month Club. But their footwear pinches my feet. So Mickey can suck it.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Quicken Earth February: Okay Fine
You know, the simple act of naming this monthly exercise Quicken Earth automatically predisposes me to avoid it. Just goes to show, a rose by any other name smells a lot better than Quicken. (My second Shakespeare cliché in a week. Maybe it's all the historical fiction. Should cut back on the Philippa Gregory.)
SINS
I am pure as the driven snow.
ADMISSIBLE NECESSITIES
(PREVIOUSLY OWNED) FRIVOLITIES
Marc by Marc Jacobs dress, which turned out quite well, thank you.
Marc by Marc Jacobs wool shawl top, very chic and only $35!
Velvet brand shrug sweater, pleasantly boob-framing and only $15!
Ruby red Pashima shawl purchased yesterday on second trip to Cris in a week. A rip-off at $69, but I needed a fix. Must monitor this behavior carefully.
TECHNICALITIES
I ran out of lipstick and foundation, and used an old Sephora gift certificate to replace them. So between the fact that makeup is clearly a necessity, and cash for said items was technically exchanged last year, I say I'm off the hook.
My aunt felt sorry for me and gave me a watch. A used watch.
And I lost my sunglasses while I was in the OC, so my friend Pat, who works at Oakley, gave me a replacement pair. I call that evening my score with the universe.
ABSTENTIONS
A
to replace my
because it's been moody all week, refusing to ring, freezing screens and erasing text messages. Also, I'm starting to feel like I did back in fifth grade, when I was the only girl in school who didn't have a Cabbage Patch Kid.
A
to replace my
because it skips whole albums and froze my iTunes yesterday, so that I had to restore it to its factory settings. It would be so much more exciting to load up an iPod that's not so terribly gauche.
And a
to replace my
be ca aa a use wa tch ing
vi
de
ooo s on
line
t a k e s so
ve ve ve ry
loooong.
Carrie is beyond the cougar phase; she's a saber tooth tiger in a leopard world.
I feel like I'm in Mercury Retrograde: Extreme Electronic Edition. HCB reckons that my personal charge has shifted, causing aforementioned devices to falter. But this is all starting to sound a little too New Age, even for me.
SINS
I am pure as the driven snow.
ADMISSIBLE NECESSITIES
(PREVIOUSLY OWNED) FRIVOLITIES
Marc by Marc Jacobs dress, which turned out quite well, thank you.
Marc by Marc Jacobs wool shawl top, very chic and only $35!
Velvet brand shrug sweater, pleasantly boob-framing and only $15!
Ruby red Pashima shawl purchased yesterday on second trip to Cris in a week. A rip-off at $69, but I needed a fix. Must monitor this behavior carefully.
TECHNICALITIES
I ran out of lipstick and foundation, and used an old Sephora gift certificate to replace them. So between the fact that makeup is clearly a necessity, and cash for said items was technically exchanged last year, I say I'm off the hook.
My aunt felt sorry for me and gave me a watch. A used watch.
And I lost my sunglasses while I was in the OC, so my friend Pat, who works at Oakley, gave me a replacement pair. I call that evening my score with the universe.
ABSTENTIONS
A
to replace my
because it's been moody all week, refusing to ring, freezing screens and erasing text messages. Also, I'm starting to feel like I did back in fifth grade, when I was the only girl in school who didn't have a Cabbage Patch Kid.
A
to replace my
because it skips whole albums and froze my iTunes yesterday, so that I had to restore it to its factory settings. It would be so much more exciting to load up an iPod that's not so terribly gauche.
And a
to replace my
be ca aa a use wa tch ing
vi
de
ooo s on
line
t a k e s so
ve ve ve ry
loooong.
Carrie is beyond the cougar phase; she's a saber tooth tiger in a leopard world.
I feel like I'm in Mercury Retrograde: Extreme Electronic Edition. HCB reckons that my personal charge has shifted, causing aforementioned devices to falter. But this is all starting to sound a little too New Age, even for me.
Friday, February 1, 2008
It's like Quicken Earth.
Hello February.
One down, 11 more to go. Seems like a monthly tally would be a smart thing to do. And if I buckle down and do it on the first of each month, then I won't be stuck at my desk all day on April 14th, 2009, cursing and fabricating eco-farces.
SINS
You've already heard about my attractive blue business expenditures. I also bought four magazines. They were work research, but still.
And...Oh Schitt! I bought a lingerie bag at Nordstrom on January 11th! I didn't even THINK about it when I did it. All month I've been wandering around all smug and stuff, only to discover that my subconscious will shop with or without me. Nature always finds a way.
ADMISSIBLE NECESSITIES
(PREVIOUSLY OWNED) FRIVOLITIES
Three fab bargain tees, three ill-fitting shotgun schmattas, one slinky silk cami and one Ren Faire blouse. Plus the vintage placemats and Almighty Muffin Tin.
TECHNICALITIES
I wonder: does an album purchased on iTunes count? Since there is no packaging, no shipping and nothing to store in my apartment, apart from megabytes? I say no. So Jesca Hoop gets to go into the Frivolities category for the final tally.
Also: how about financial instruments? I opened a new money market account in January. I also make automatic contributions to my IRA every month. I do receive printed materials. Hmmm. Still seems sufficiently intangible to stay out of the Sins column. And besides, where am I supposed to put all this money I'm saving by not buying stuff?
ABSTENTIONS
Obvi.
Also, these hot-ass 70's silhouette jeans. (The ones on her, not on him. But come to think of it, those man pants would look mighty fine on HCB. Everything looks mighty fine on HCB.) And while we're being brutally honest, let's admit that I have eyes for those platforms, too.
And the entire J. Crew catalog. Mickey Drexler, you rock my world. I cry myself to sleep at night pining for your posh prints and jewel-toned cashmere.
One down, 11 more to go. Seems like a monthly tally would be a smart thing to do. And if I buckle down and do it on the first of each month, then I won't be stuck at my desk all day on April 14th, 2009, cursing and fabricating eco-farces.
SINS
You've already heard about my attractive blue business expenditures. I also bought four magazines. They were work research, but still.
And...Oh Schitt! I bought a lingerie bag at Nordstrom on January 11th! I didn't even THINK about it when I did it. All month I've been wandering around all smug and stuff, only to discover that my subconscious will shop with or without me. Nature always finds a way.
ADMISSIBLE NECESSITIES
(PREVIOUSLY OWNED) FRIVOLITIES
Three fab bargain tees, three ill-fitting shotgun schmattas, one slinky silk cami and one Ren Faire blouse. Plus the vintage placemats and Almighty Muffin Tin.
TECHNICALITIES
I wonder: does an album purchased on iTunes count? Since there is no packaging, no shipping and nothing to store in my apartment, apart from megabytes? I say no. So Jesca Hoop gets to go into the Frivolities category for the final tally.
Also: how about financial instruments? I opened a new money market account in January. I also make automatic contributions to my IRA every month. I do receive printed materials. Hmmm. Still seems sufficiently intangible to stay out of the Sins column. And besides, where am I supposed to put all this money I'm saving by not buying stuff?
ABSTENTIONS
Obvi.
Also, these hot-ass 70's silhouette jeans. (The ones on her, not on him. But come to think of it, those man pants would look mighty fine on HCB. Everything looks mighty fine on HCB.) And while we're being brutally honest, let's admit that I have eyes for those platforms, too.
And the entire J. Crew catalog. Mickey Drexler, you rock my world. I cry myself to sleep at night pining for your posh prints and jewel-toned cashmere.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
